Milk bottle locking device



May 3, 1932. F. 1 GRANT s 1,856,097

MILK BOTTLE LOCKING DEVICE Filed Feb. 2, 1951 WHIHIIH) @VWQLM dit@ Patented Mey 3, 1932 PATENT OFFICE FRANK Il. GRANT, OF CHICAGO ILLINOIS MILK BOTTLE LOCKING DEVICE Application led February 2, 1931.

This invention relates to a lock for the prevention of theft of milk bottles after they have been delivered to the consumer and lett on his door step.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a keyless lock for milk bottles which is simple in operation.

Another object is to provide a lock which is self adjustable to diterent diameters of milk bottle necks.

A further object is to provide a lock which requires no manipulation by the consumer.

A further object is to provide a lock ot this nature which at the same time provides a complete enclosure for the top of the milk bottle whereby the top of the bottle remains clean and sanitary, and prevents other disturbance of the bottle top and its contents.

Another object is to provide a lock secured to the outer frame of a door, and abutting against the door, whereby after a bottle has been delivered and locked by this device, the lock cannot be again opened lrom the outer side so long as the bottle remains within it,

I and yetthe bottle may be withdrawn with ease from the lock when the door is opened.

In the drawings is shown the preferred embodinient of my invention, in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view.

Figure 2. is a plan view of the lock from the side abutting the door.

Figure 3 is a view of the lock mounted in its operative position with the milk bottle locked in it.

Referring to the drawings '10 indicates a door frame on which the lock is mounted so that the open side of the lock abuts against the door when the door is closed, and forms a part of the locking system. The end 11 is` secured to the frame either by screws as shown in the drawings, or it may be secured by a removable fastening device so that the entire lock may be removed when desired.

The top l2, side 13. and flange 141 are preferably `formed ot one piece as shown in the drawings and welded to the end 11, althoughthe individual parts may be made and secured together in any other conventional manner. A second flange 15 is secured to, or terms a part ot the locking end 1G.

Serial No. 512,885.

i Secured to theinner side of side 13 is a housing 17 which carries the lock bolt 18. This lock bolt is secured to the end 16, and has a number of ratch-like teeth in it. A locking pin 19 is preferably secured to the side 13 and projects into an opening in the housing 17 to engage the lock bolt teeth. The construction of this pin is such that when it is raised to the eX- tent of striking the top 12 it will not be withdrawn from the bolt housing, although it will disengage the teeth. It is also preferably constructed of a flat or angular strip and lits into a like opening in the bolt housing to prevent thepin from turning out of position. The head` ot' the pin is preferably a continuation of the same piece turned at a right angle 'and lies flat against the side wall. The purpose ot this being that it cannot be disengaged from the lock bolt by any movement of the bottle held `within the lock, or by the insertion of any line instrument into the lock through its bottom.

At one end the` lock bolt has a turnedup end or stud 2O which protrudes through a slot in the `lock bolt housing` which limits the Withdrawal of the bolt. A spring 21 is Carried in the housing adjacent the end 11 and acts on the lock bolt urging it outwardly when the locking pin is manually raisedout 1 ofengagement with the teeth.

i In operating the device, when the door is closed the milkrnan inserts his linger into the lock from beneath and raises the locking pin. This releases the slide 16 which springsoutwardly. The top of the bottle is then inserted `upwardly into the lock through the open bottom, and the side 16 pushed in as far as it will go, the flanges 1/1 and 15 gripping the neck of the bottle between them below the flange of the bottle. The pin drops into the teeth and holds the side locked, and the device cannot be opened from the outer side of the door, the locking pin being inaccessible `in this position.

r-Xlthough milk bottles are generally of the same width at their lower portions, many of them vary in sizeiat the neck.` This device overcomes this variation by having its locking position adjustable by means of the series of locking teeth, and allows bottles of varying neck size to be equally well locked.

To withdraw the bottle it is necessary to open the door from which side it is merely withdrawn without the necessity of manipulating the lock, and no resetting of the lock is required.

It is obvious that the lock may be mounted on any part of the door :frame or against a window.

What I claim is:

l. In an article of the A'el-ass described, a body comprising a stationary top,` side, end and a movable end, secured to the frame "of a door in abutting relation tothe door which forms the other side; flanges carried byv said means carried by said body-enclosure,wheres by bottlesof various neck diametersmay be `locked therein after being inserted 4into :the Y enclosure, .said locking means comprising albol't secured to said movable end sliding in a rhousing carried by said stationary side and means ytor holding said bo'l-t 'indifferent locking :positions to form and Yend closure,

*the `bottle being removable when the door iis'opened. i

v2', .In an article 'of fthe lclassfdescribed, a

:body -oomprising `a stationary top, side, end

land a movable end, secured to ythe frame of La'd'oorin abuttingxrelation to the 'door which 'forms fthe otherside; lii'anfges .carried by said ends -to engage the neck "of al bottle below Ythe bottle flange, and adjustable `lroclri-ngl 'means (carried Aby said fb'od'y enclosure whereby Ibottles :oit various neck diameters may be locked therein after being inserted into'the enclosure, said looking fmeans `eoi'nprising a designed to allow inward movement of said end, but against outward movement, wherebythe bolt may hold the end locked to form a variable enclosure, and means for opening said lock after the bottle has been withi bo'ltsecur'ed tojsaid moveable end andslidy 'ing in va ihousing carried by said kstationary side, said vbolt -hfavung a servies 'of gteeth de-` signed to be engaged by a l'oking pin Sextending through `said housing :intoilockng engagement with said teeth, ,whereby said bolt vmay hold sai'dend locked :to'form'an'em closure of varying size fever thetop of the bottle.

3.. In 'an article of theFc-lass ikdescribed, a body comprising a stationary top, side, iend fand a movable end, secured tothe frame "of l a door in i abuttingrel'ati'on 'to the door which formsthe otherside; flanges carried by said lends to 'engage the 'neck of a 'bottle below enclosure, said lock'ing imeans comprising a boltsecured to said movable end 'and slidling 1n :a housing carried by fsaid'stationary side, said bolt having "as'e'ries of teeth designed to vbe engaged ,Ibyfa (vertically disposed locking 'pin adjacent said iside, and

leltending through said housing into locking :engagement 'with said teeth, the'fteetli being 

